Former Superintendent Millicent Borishade filed a lawsuit Friday claiming that she was wrongfully fired by St. Louis Public Schools, the victim of a smear campaign and retaliaiton for whistleblowing.
Borishade led the school district on an interim and then permanent basis from July 2024 to October 2025. At the time of her firing, the district said in a statement that "a change in leadership is necessary to move the district forward and strengthen confidence in its future direction."
The lawsuit lists SLPS, the union that represents its teachers and multiple individuals as defendants.
"Every individual has the right to pursue legal action, and the courts are responsible for determining the merits and outcome of claims," said SLPS Board President Karen Collins-Adams. "Our focus remains where it belongs -- on educating students, supporting our staff, and continuing the important work underway to improve our schools and stabilize the district."
The American Federation of Teachers Local 420 declined to comment.
In the suit, Borishade argues that she was terminated "without cause" and that there was no breach of her employment agreement with the district.
Borishade also alleges that she found "significant legal, regulatory and compliance related issues" during her time in the district. Those include immigration law violations, misuse of public funds, payroll fraud, discriminatory violations, open records violations and contracting violations.
The suit says the district falsified enrollment information to manipulate graduation rates and test scores, potentially leading to fraud involving public money because those numbers are used to receive funding from Missouri's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
The former superintendent also says she witnessed payroll fraud, potential violations of law related to employing immigrants, discrimination of students based on immigration status and gender and multiple violations of Missouri's open records laws. The filing says she saw procurement and contracting violations like conflicts of interest and nepotism.
Borishade said she raised these issues to SLPS' general counsel, board President Karen Collins-Adams, the board of education and the state department.
Borishade also says AFT Local 420 engaged in a smear campaign against her, including a "Vote of No Confidence" petition. And she alleges she faced harassment based on her race and sex.
The lawsuit was filed in St. Louis Circuit Court.
This article was updated to include responses from SLPS and AFT Local 420.
Copyright 2026 St. Louis Public Radio